The national nonprofit Feed the Hunger Fund is helping small farms in Hawaiʻi by loaning them a total of $260,000.
To accommodate the loan, $1 million from Kamehameha Schools and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health has been donated to invest in small-scale food entrepreneurs.
Kanekoa Farms, Mokuwai Piko Poi and Aloha ‘Ᾱina Poi Company were selected for the funds. They used the money to buy equipment and upgrade their facilities to support their production.
“For many of these farmers, it has allowed them not just to sustain themselves, but also to grow,” Patti Chang, the CEO and co-founder of Feed the Hunger Foundation, said.
Access to capital was one of the biggest barriers young farmers faced, according to a 2022 survey. In Hawaiʻi, 80% of farmers make less than $25,000 and a majority of farms are less than 10 acres.
Feed The Hunger Fund’s mission is to alleviate hunger and poverty by providing microloans and small loans to low‐income individuals.
“Small farms are the backbone of Hawaiʻi’s food system and ensuring access to capital for these growers is essential for sustainability,” Michael Robinson, vice president of government relations and community affairs at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, said.
